Treaty United fall to frustrating home league defeat to Cobh Ramblers

IT wasn’t a classic by any means, and Treaty United succumbed to their fourth loss in five games as they went down to a 1-0 defeat against fellow play-off chasing Cobh Ramblers in the First Division at the Markets Field on Friday night.

A heroic first-half display from Shane Hallahan kept Tommy Barrett’s men in the game, before Treaty, boosted by the return of the injured Enda Curran to the bench, looked like they were going to hold out for their second draw on the bounce before Liam Kervick hit the hosts on the break, smashing home from close-range in the 80th minute.

Following defeats to Galway United, Finn Harps and Waterford, and a 1-1 Bank Holiday Monday draw with Wexford, Barrett’s side were hoping to bounce back to winning ways against fourth-placed Ramblers. After a difficult run of games during which Treaty conceded 14 goals in their previous four games, the Limerick side have now gone over 460 minutes without a goal from play.

Continuing to miss players through injury, Treaty made two changes from their 1-1 draw with Wexford on the June Bank Holiday Monday with Martin Coughlan and Colin Kelly coming in for Darren Collins and Marc Ludden.

It was however fourth placed Cobh, who made three changes from their starting XI against Longford, who started the brighter of the two sides and came close to taking the lead after just five minutes.

Charlie Lyons’ 25-yard low drilled effort however was brushed wide by Shane Hallahan the Treaty net - an early wake up call for a deep United defence.

Hallahan was on hand to save Treaty yet again when the former Ramblers ‘keeper got a strong hand to a superb curling effort from Liam Kervick. The skilful Waterford United loanee had done well to cut inside Ben O’Riordan and then Stephen Christopher before cutting his shot away.

A minute later, it was the turn of Cobh goalkeeper Lee Steacy to take the plaudits at the other end of the pitch, superbly saving a curling effort from Colin Conroy who’d been played through by Lee Devitt.

The visitors, chasing a second win on the trot, again, almost opened the scoring in beautiful fashion after just 18 minutes. Striker Wilson Waweru collected a pass out wide and shot from a tight angle, but Hallahan was again the hero for Treaty. In what was a carbon-copy chance, Hallahan again saved a close-range effort from Waweru just eight minutes later.

Treaty’s best passage of play came 13 minutes before half-time. Substitute Enda Curran did superbly well to hold up the ball before laying it off to Lee Devitt. The stand-in Treaty captain cut inside before setting up Alec Byrne. The former Cork City midfielder’s effort drifted narrowly wide, much to the delight of Lee Steacy in the Cobh net.

This seemed to significantly boost United’s confidence, and Byrne was on hand a minute later to meet a lovely pass from Martin Coughlan. The Cork native should have scored, but he could only watch on as his sliced shot went out for a goal kick.  Devitt turned provider again on the verge of half time but Byrne’s close-range, again, went over the bar.

Treaty, who were continued to be run ragged by the pacey and physically strong Waweru, continued to hit Cobh on the counterattack, had a penalty shout 20 minutes from time when Lee Devitt went down in the box. Referee Marc Lynch quickly dismissed shouts from the Treaty players, however.

After Kervick found the net 10 minutes from time, Treaty had a chance of their own to draw level, but Ben O’Riordan struck the crossbar after a Lee Devitt corner reached the back post.

A minute later, Waweru should have doubled Ramblers’ lead, but the impressive Cobh striker hit the crossbar much to the delight of the in-form Hallahan.

Cobh held on for their second ever League defeat of Treaty United in the Garryowen venue. Next up for Treaty is an away trip to face Athlone in two weeks’ time after the mid-season break.  

Treaty United: Shane Hallahan; Stephen Christopher, Ben O’Riordan, Darren Nwankwo, Lee Devitt (capt.); Conor Barry, Colin Kelly, Alec Byrne, Colin Conroy, Martin Coughlan; Dean George. Subs: Enda Curran for Barry (21 minutes, injured), Darren Collins for Kelly, Josh Quinlivan for Coughlan (both 57 minutes)

Cobh Ramblers: Lee Stacey; Justin Eguaibor, Brendan Frahill, Charlie Lyons; Charlie O’Brien, Dale Holland, Luke Desmond, Jason Abbott (capt.), Daragh O’Sullivan Connell; Wilson Waweru, Liam Kervick. Subs: Tiernan O’Brien for Charlie O’Brien (64 minutes), Conor Drinan for Desmond (68 minutes), Pierce Phillips for Waweru, Jake Hegarty for Holland (both 85 minutes)

Referee: Marc Lynch (Galway)